Chocolate Chip Cookies by Campbell

Chocolate Chip Cookies by Campbell - July 2024 Scholarship Essay

I figured out how to make the perfect chocolate chip recipe too late. My dad loved chocolate chip cookies, and I loved to make them. It was the perfect combination. I love perfecting recipes and experimenting with new things. My dad passed away ten months ago, and he never got to try my perfected chocolate chip cookies.

When I realized this, it stung my soul. There are many milestones and events loved ones do not get to be a part of after they die. It hurts so much because they should. My dad was not there at my high school graduation, and it was a hard day. I tried to muster up an ounce of joy, but it was pointless. It is hard to be excited about little wins when the person you want most is not there for you to tell them.

I cannot change the situation, so I have to make the most of it. Honoring my dad in little ways has gotten me through his absence and whole in my heart where he should be. He was huge about graduating with as little student debt as possible, so I have been applying to all the scholarships I qualify for. My dad died by suicide, so breaking the stigma about depression, and spreading awareness has been important to me.

I have heard families will stop talking about their deceased loved ones. My family and I talk about him all the time to remember the good times, and to keep his legacy alive. My mom’s friend sketched a life-like photo of my dad that I keep in my room to look at every day. Honoring my dad is my way of keeping his memory alive.